Written Answers Monday 28 January 2008

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek to reinstate farm assurance membership schemes in 2009.

Richard Lochhead: : Yes, we will seek to reinstate the quality assurance schemes that had to be removed from the programme. We will work with stakeholders and the commission to see which schemes can be reinstated and subject to the commission’s agreement will modify the programme to do so later this year. Support, for any of the reinstated measures should then be available from the beginning of 2009.

Central Heating

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting times were under the central heating programme in each of the last 16 months.

Stewart Maxwell: The information is only available from November 2006 when Scottish Gas was appointed as the managing agent. Scottish Gas has provided the following details:

  

 Period
 Average Waiting Time in Days


 November 2006
 180


 December 2006
 129


 January 2007
 143


 February 2007
 136


 March 2007
 116


 April 2007
 113


 May 2007
 114


 June 2007
 153


 July 2007
 140


 August 2007
 163


 September 2007
 191


 October 2007
 227


 November 2007
 251


 December 2007
 229



  Note: The "Average Waiting Time" is the average time a householder has waited between application and the month in which their system was installed.

Central Heating

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the monthly installation rate has been under the central heating programme over the last two years.

Stewart Maxwell: The monthly installation rate over the last two years is shown in the following table:

  

 Period
 Installations Undertaken


 January 2006
 1,047


 February 2006
 1,147


 March 2006
 1,621


 April 2006
 679


 May 2006
 1,220


 June 2006
 1,035


 July 2006
 931


 August 2006
 996


 September 2006
 834


 October 2006
 28*


 November 2006
 28*


 December 2006
 29*


 January 2007
 1,486*


 February 2007
 1,486*


 March 2007
 1,486*


 April 2007
 869


 May 2007
 870


 June 2007
 1,194


 July 2007
 1,101


 August 2007
 1,209


 September 2007
 1,014


 October 2007
 996


 November 2007
 1,005


 December 2007
 876



  Notes:

  1. The figures provided are for completed installations. The increased activity following the Cabinet Secretary’s announcement in November 2007, of additional installations, has yet to flow through into the statistics of installations undertaken.

  2. Where the figures are marked with an asterisk, the current managing agent (Scottish Gas) has indicated that these are average figures for the start-up period covering its involvement on the programme.

Central Heating

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new applications have been received under the central heating programme in each month over the last three years.

Stewart Maxwell: The information is only available from October 2006 when Scottish Gas was appointed as the managing agent. Scottish Gas has provided the following details:

  

 Period
 Applications Received
Eligible Applicants
(Subject to Survey)


 October 2006
 3,825
 2,674


 November 2006
 5,031
 3,569


 December 2006
 2,328
 1,667


 January 2007
 2,514
 1,983


 February 2007
 2,721
 2,106


 March 2007
 2,605
 2,047


 April 2007
 2,838
 2,058


 May 2007
 2,951
 2,167


 June 2007
 2,755
 2,164


 July 2007
 2,362
 1,837


 August 2007
 2,292
 1,895


 September 2007
 1,910
 1,674


 October 2007
 2,584
 2,256


 November 2007
 2,554
 2,074


 December 2007
 1,340
 1,088



  Notes:

  1. The number of applicants recorded during autumn and early winter 2006 includes applications collected over the summer period by the previous managing agent and recorded by Scottish Gas as they assessed eligibility from October 2006.

  2. An initial assessment on eligibility is made at the application stage (normally by telephone) and those applicants are recorded as eligible. Eligibility is then confirmed during the survey stage in the applicant’s home.

Culture

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5755 by Linda Fabiani on 9 November 2007, when an announcement will be made about the detailed arrangements for the implementation of the artists’ grant scheme.

Linda Fabiani: Further to the response I provided on 9 November, I have no additional information to offer at this stage.

Culture

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6595 by Linda Fabiani on 27 November 2007, on what the remainder of the £20 million Cultural Review funding attached to the 2007-08 budget is being spent.

Linda Fabiani: Final announcements on how the £20 million funding has been allocated in 2007-08 will be made in due course.

Culture

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will introduce its Creative Scotland Bill to the Parliament.

Linda Fabiani: We will introduce a bill to establish Creative Scotland as soon as possible in 2008.

Dentistry

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Childsmile School programme will be introduced into primary schools in (a) Dundee and (b) Angus.

Shona Robison: It is anticipated that Childsmile School will be introduced into primary schools in Dundee in February 2008 and Angus in March 2008.

Dentistry

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many dental nurses will be involved in implementing the Childsmile School programme in NHS Tayside.

Shona Robison: Nine dental nurses will be involved in implementing Childsmile School in NHS Tayside.

Dentistry

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost will be and what resources will be made available from 2008-09 to increase the percentage of all three to five-year-olds in NHS Tayside who are registered with a dentist from 75% in June 2007 to 80% by 2010-11, as promised by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing on 12 December 2007 ( Official Report c. 4291).

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost will be and what resources will be made available from 2008-09 to increase the percentage of all three to five-year-olds in NHS Grampian who are registered with a dentist from 75% in June 2007 to 80% by 2010-11, as promised by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing on 12 December 2007 ( Official Report c. 4291).

Shona Robison: The costs are yet to be determined but will be made available through the general dental services budget.

Dentistry

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many students have applied through UCAS to study at the Aberdeen dental school.

Shona Robison: Due to the tight timescales of establishing the new dental school in Aberdeen, applications are not being channelled through UCAS this year. Adverts will be placed shortly in the media and a number of expressions of interest have already been received.

Dentistry

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which institution will award degrees to students who study at the Aberdeen dental school.

Shona Robison: Initially Aberdeen and Dundee Universities will award a joint degree.

Digital Technology

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to progress the broadband reach project following the closing of registration for those currently unable to receive a broadband service.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to prioritise the provision of broadband to all households and businesses in Scotland currently unable to obtain an ADSL service.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding measures are in place to ensure that all households and businesses will be provided with a broadband service.

Jim Mather: Our broadband reach project is progressing well. We are currently completing the verification of all the registrations we have received. The Scottish Government consider all registered premises without broadband access to be a priority and their details will thus be passed to potential suppliers, as part of our procurement process.

  We will now be entering a competitive dialogue phase with several suppliers. Over the next few months they will be asked to show, within their bids, how they propose to deliver solutions to registered premises.

  We are aiming to sign a contract by April and have allocated up to £3.5 million to deliver broadband access over 2008.

Digital Technology

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what timescale it has to respond to those who have registered their details through the Broadband for Scotland campaign.

Jim Mather: We are currently contacting those who made registrations under our broadband campaign. This work is completing in the next few weeks and will verify the list of access problems being addressed in our procurement exercise. Our timescale for deploying actual solutions is the end of 2008.

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether HM Inspectorate of Education has found that local authority pre-school centres without a teacher perform better than partner centres without a teacher.

Adam Ingram: This information is set out in HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) report The Key Role of Staff in Providing Quality Pre-School Education (2007) . The report is available from the publications section of their website http://www.hmie.gov.uk .

Elections

Keith Brown (Ochil) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how much local authorities spent on the 2003 (a) Scottish Parliament and (b) local government elections.

Bruce Crawford: Information is not held centrally on the cost to local authorities of the 2003 Scottish Parliament and local government elections. However, information published in Scottish Local Government Statistics 2003-04 shows that local authorities spent £4.2 million in that year on conducting elections and £7.2 million on the registration of electors. Full details of the publication are at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/02/20724/52956 .

Elections

Keith Brown (Ochil) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it spent on the 2007 Scottish Parliament and local government elections and whether it will provide a breakdown of the expenditure, including any fees paid to DRS Data & Research Services plc.

Bruce Crawford: The Scotland Office is responsible for meeting costs associated with the Scottish Parliament elections. The main expenditure associated with running local government elections is normally met by local authorities from within their own budgets. For the 2007 elections the Scottish Government funded the following specific elements.

  

 Funding to local authorities associated with the introduction of electronic counting 
£3.56 million 


 Research on format of local government ballot paper
£22,795


 Electronic counting software verification 
£12,955


 Printing and web conversion costs of code of practice for observers at local authority elections
£268


 Estimated costs of printing and web conversion of legislation dealing with the local authority elections and local government boundary review 
£7,200


 VoteScotland campaign - run jointly with the Electoral Commission 
£1.25 million 


 Payments to DRS Data & Research Services
£1.26 million

Elections

Keith Brown (Ochil) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how much local authorities spent on the 2007 Scottish Parliament and local government elections and whether it will provide a breakdown of the expenditure, including any fees paid to DRS Data & Research Services plc.

Bruce Crawford: Information is not held centrally on the cost to local authorities of the 2007 Scottish Parliament and local government elections. Information is provided by local authorities on the overall annual costs of holding elections and for the registration of electors and this information is published annually in Scottish Local Government Statistics. Scottish Local Government Statistics 2006-07 is due to be published in February.

Energy

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has issued any guidance to local authorities on the development of community energy plans.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has not issued any guidance to local authorities on the development of community energy plans.

  However, we are committed to tripling the funding for community renewables and microgeneration, and are currently reviewing what form that support should take. As part of that process we are considering what help communities may need to engage with renewables developments.

  We are also considering feedback from a seminar I hosted in November last year which brought together a range of stakeholders to discuss the potential community benefits from wind farm developments.

  In addition, the emerging conclusions of the Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland (FREDS) renewable heat group include the need for guidance to local authorities to deliver local fuel and heat strategies. The group will also recommend the development of heat maps at a local level. We will take these recommendations into account in developing a Renewable Heat Plan for Scotland, which I anticipate publishing later this year.

  We will also consider further the opportunities for community energy plans and companies.

Energy Conservation

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations Scottish Ministers made to Her Majesty’s Government in advance of its announcement of more than £100 million of funding to the Energy Saving Trust to build the existing energy advice service to become a proactive green homes service and what proportion of such funding will be spent in Scotland.

Jim Mather: This announcement refers to funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and, as such, is for England only.

  At the time of the announcement in November 2007, the Scottish Government was already progressing its own plans to fund the Energy Saving Trust (EST) to launch an Energy Saving Scotland Advice Centre (ESSAC) network from April 2008. The services delivered through the new network will include provision for a service similar to Green Homes.

  As part of the development of the EST workplan for Scotland for 2008-09, discussions are currently underway on the funding arrangements for EST activities, including the ESSAC network. A decision on funding is due to be made within the next few weeks.

Enterprise

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it will make available to each local authority in each of the next three financial years to support their responsibilities for the delivery of Business Gateway.

Jim Mather: The transfer of Business Gateway functions to local authorities will involve a reallocation of funds. The detail of this has still to be determined.

Enterprise

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6141 by Jim Mather on 29 November 2007, when the post of Chief Executive of Scottish Development International will be advertised and when it expects any new appointee to be in post.

Jim Mather: The post of chief executive of Scottish Development International is scheduled to be advertised as an open competition on Friday 18 January 2008. We hope to have the appointee in post as soon as possible thereafter.

Europe

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a European policy co-ordination office.

Linda Fabiani: European policy co-ordination is carried out by the Scottish Government EU Office in Brussels and Europe Division in Edinburgh under the overall responsibility of the government’s EU Director, currently Michael Aron.

Europe

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the head of the Cabinet Office European Secretariat.

Linda Fabiani: The Prime Minister’s Adviser on International Economic Affairs and Europe and head of the Cabinet Office European Secretariat, Jon Cunliffe, was present at the Joint Ministerial Committee on Europe on 5 December which I attended. Scottish Government officials are also invited to the regular meetings jointly chaired by the head of the Cabinet Office European Secretariat and the UK Permanent Representative to the European Union, which they attend when items of interest to the Scottish Government are on the agenda. Most recently, the Scottish Government’s EU Director, Michael Aron, attended the meeting on 23 January.

Europe

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the UK Permanent Representative in Brussels.

Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government’s EU Director, Michael Aron, meets with the UK Permanent Representative to the European Union on a regular basis. They last met on 23 January. The EU Director has a standing invitation to the Permanent Representative’s weekly senior management meetings which he attends as necessary. Scottish Government officials are also invited to the regular meetings jointly chaired by the head of the Cabinet Office European Secretariat and the UK Permanent Representative to the EU, which they attend when there are items of interest to the Scottish Government on the agenda.

European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to celebrate European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008.

Linda Fabiani: Through our Scottish Government Office in Brussels, we have made plans for a series of cultural events in Brussels during 2008. The programme will include events featuring Scottish Opera and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and a writers’ series featuring well-known Scottish writers such as Christopher Brookmyre, Iain Banks and Quintin Jardine, as well as talents like Kevin MacNeil, a young up and coming Gaelic author. The audience for these events will come from a range of member state delegations, and will encourage intercultural dialogue and cultural exchange between Scotland and its European neighbours.

European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government to promote European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008.

Linda Fabiani: Scottish Government officials have, from an early stage, monitored the development of proposals for this initiative, and in doing so have liaised regularly with their counterparts at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). DCMS has designated EUCLID, the UK’s EU Cultural Contact Point, as the organisation best placed to promote the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue within the UK. The Scottish Government has disseminated information through its national cultural agencies and its local authorities.

European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with COSLA to promote European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008.

Linda Fabiani: Scottish Government officials have liaised periodically with COSLA officials, in order to ensure that they were aware of this initiative, and have in addition disseminated information directly to all local authorities on the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008.

Ferry Services

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what constitutes a non-compliant bid in relation to tenders for the services currently operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what constitutes the difference between what may have been deemed to be a non-compliant innovative solution to a ferry problem and a compliant innovative solution, in terms of the tender specification for services currently operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd.

Stewart Stevenson: The Invitation to Tender (ITT,) issued by the previous administration on 14 December 2006, set out the minimum service specification for the Public Service Contract for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services as the then current timetable of services plus the specified enhancements. Any bid that did not meet the minimum service requirement would be deemed to be non-compliant with the terms of the ITT.

Ferry Services

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any one part of a tender bid for ferry services which is deemed to be non-compliant renders the entire bid non-compliant.

Stewart Stevenson: No. The options that included a service for Mallaig to Lochboisdale were submitted by CalMac Ferries Ltd as supplements to the main bid. The "base network" bid was fully evaluated both technically and financially and was considered to be fully compliant with the terms of the Invitation to Tender and the contract was awarded on that basis.

Ferry Services

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, during the tendering process for services currently operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd, it advised CalMac Ferries Ltd that some of its proposals were non-compliant and, if so, how that advice was given, on what date, by whom and to whom.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any innovative solutions offered by CalMac Ferries Ltd during the tendering process for the current contract operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd formed part of the final contract and, if so, why such solutions were considered to be compliant at the time.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, under the terms of an invitation to look at innovative solutions as part of the bidding process for the contract, CalMac Ferries Ltd offered optional variants on how a Lochboisdale to Mallaig service could operate.

Stewart Stevenson: The Invitation To Tender (ITT) set the service specification for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) contract as the then current timetable plus a number of specified enhancements. The ITT also required tenderers to submit a variant bid that included a Mallaig to Lochboisdale service while continuing to provide an Oban to Caslebay service and the rest of the CHFS services as specified.

  In response to the Invitation to Tender for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services Contract CalMac Ferries Limited submitted:

  A "base network" bid that was compliant with the ITT for the minimum service specification;

  A "variant bid" for a Mallaig to Lochboisdale service that was compliant with the terms of the ITT, and

  An "optional variant bid" that was not compliant with the terms of the ITT.

  CalMac recognised that this proposed "optional variant bid" would have been a medium term option, which would have required consultation and the support of all communities affected had it been deemed appropriate by the Scottish Government. This potentially attractive solution was submitted by the company as an innovative alternative to the main proposal.

  The contract was awarded for the "base network" bid which delivered the minimum service level and some minor enhancements.

  There was extensive dialogue with CalMac Ferries Ltd, and their advisors, during the tender process regarding their proposals.

Ferry Services

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether an issue that was non-compliant at the time of bidding in terms of the tender specification for ferry services to the islands now operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd could now be considered competent as a separate addition to the contract.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is free to add new routes, or variations to routes, to the contract operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether CalMac Ferries Ltd is free to suggest alterations to its contract in order to accommodate new services or variations to services currently on offer.

Stewart Stevenson: Under the terms of the Public Service Contract no changes can be made to the timetable during the first six months of the contract. Thereafter the terms of the Public Service Contract allow CalMac Ferries Ltd to make minor and major changes to the timetable with the agreement of Scottish ministers. Users must be consulted prior to any changes being made and in the event of a major change Scottish ministers would need to see community support.

Ferry Services

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it meant in the tender specification for island ferry services now operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd by the reference to seeking innovative solutions to problems of ferry service delivery.

Stewart Stevenson: The Invitation to Tender was issued by the previous administration. However, the Scottish Government has taken the view that innovative solutions would be any new option that delivered at least the minimum service specification.

Ferry Services

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has invited CalMac Ferries Ltd to explore the possibilities of operating a Lochboisdale to Mallaig ferry service and recommend to the Scottish Government how this might be achieved and at what cost.

Stewart Stevenson: Following the award of the new contract, and in response to issues raised by local elected representatives, CalMac Ferries Ltd were asked to search the market place for suitable vessels that might be available to support a Mallaig – Lochboisdale service. They have completed the search and have reported their findings to the Scottish Government. I also met with community representatives from South Uist on 22 January to listen to their views on the possibility of a Mallaig – Lochboisdale service.

Ferry Services

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a Lochboisdale to Mallaig ferry service could be operated with the current vessels owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd.

Stewart Stevenson: A dedicated service between Mallaig and Lochboisdale could not be delivered with the existing vessels. However, there could be other options possibly involving summer services.

Ferry Services

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what costs were provided by CalMac Ferries Ltd for the operation of options that it presented to achieve the introduction of a ferry service from Lochboisdale to Mallaig at the time of the tendering exercise for current services, or since.

Stewart Stevenson: The mandatory "variant bid" for a dedicated service between Mallaig and Lochboisdale required the purchase of an additional vessel with a suggested capital cost of £25 million and additional running costs of £4 million per annum.

  The "optional variant bid" would have required significant changes to services to Barra and an additional subsidy of some £600,000 per annum.

Fisheries

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what quantities of fish have been discarded annually since 2003 by the small mesh nephrops trawl fishery in the Clyde area and of what species the bulk of these discards were composed.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is not in a position to quantify with any certainty the overall amount of fish discarded annually in the Clyde by the small mesh Nephrops fishery. Discarded fish include small and unwanted commercial species, but also species which have no commercial value which are also taken by fishing gears.

  Fisheries Research Services (FRS) runs an observer programme which is directed at estimating the discarded component of the main commercial species. That observer programme suggests that quantities of landings and discards of cod made by smaller meshed vessels are small in Area VIa particularly in the Clyde. The Clyde Cod closure which has run from 14 January to 30 April in the first quarter of the year is considered to be effective in protecting cod at a time when they are aggregating to spawn. The observer programme also suggests that landings of haddock and whiting in the Clyde are also small, but discards of haddock and whiting are markedly higher than discards of cod and may be of the order of several hundred tonnes per year. The Scottish Government intends to work with the fishing industry and others to implement measures, in particular under the Conservation Credits scheme, to reduce such discards.

Fisheries

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to (a) commission and (b) publish the results of a survey into the economic value of recreational sea angling.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government issued a contract to Glasgow Caledonian University on 16 November 2007 to undertake a study into the Economic Impact of Recreational Sea Angling in Scotland. We expect the study to report later this year.

Fisheries

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there is any merit in designating certain critically endangered species of sea fish as recreational species.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government believes that there is a need to reduce the complexity of fisheries management and that there is little merit in introducing additional management categories at this stage.

Fisheries

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the recent European fisheries summit has benefited the west coast prawn fishery.

Richard Lochhead: The deal which I negotiated at the December Fisheries Council benefited the west coast nephrops fishery in a number of ways. In particular on days at sea not only was the headline cut for much of the fleet reduced from 25% to 10% but I negotiated the possibility for Scotland to design its own arrangements outwith the EU’s days at sea regime. Under our Conservation Credits Scheme fishermen will be rewarded for steps they take to reduce cod mortality and discards. I also successfully resisted attempts by the Commission to impose a mandatory requirement for further technical measures which would have had a significant impact on all west coast nephrops vessels.

Fisheries

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it secured an additional 28 days fishing in this year’s EU fisheries deal to replace the 28 days which were deducted under the 2006 EU fisheries agreement from the number of days that west coast prawn fishing boats could spend at sea under the derogation.

Richard Lochhead: As I explained to Parliament on 17 January, the Commission did not agree at the December Council to grant an additional 28 days to the derogated west coast prawn fishing fleet. My officials pursued this matter with the Commission throughout the negotiations. During the December Council, the Commission finally explained the reasoning behind the proposal which was agreed by the Council in December 2006. In particular, they explained that their criteria had been that any fleets which, in the West of Scotland, had caught more than 4,000 cod individuals or discarded more than 10,000 cod individuals would face days at sea cuts for 2007. The derogated nephrops fleet (4.a.ii/8.1.d gear) did not fall under both these thresholds and was as a result added to those fleets which faced cuts. The UK asked the Commission for copies of the papers showing where these west of Scotland thresholds were established, but Commission officials explained that they were agreed verbally.

  The lack of transparency in this decision was particularly disappointing.

Fisheries

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is providing for sea angling.

Jim Mather: VisitScotland is represented on and has contributed funding to the Angling Development Tourism Group, which was instrumental in the development of the FishScotland website. VisitScotland also has a section on its own website dedicated to sea angling, along with two pages about the sport in its Fishing in Scotland brochure. In addition, VisitScotland has contributed some funding to the Country Sports Tourism Group, which has looked at a number of projects to further develop angling of all kinds in Scotland.

Fisheries

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it intends to have with the Scottish Federation of Sea Anglers about support for recreational sea angling.

Jim Mather: Officials have engaged with the Scottish Federation of Sea Anglers over a considerable period of time to discuss support for recreational sea angling. These discussions continue, not least in connection with a study which the government is undertaking to seek to establish the economic value of recreational sea angling.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support Scottish fishermen to maximise the opportunities from the conservation credit scheme.

Richard Lochhead: The Conservation Credit Scheme gives us the flexibility to reward our fishermen with additional days at sea where they can demonstrate that they are signed up to initiatives which have an appreciable impact on the conservation of fragile fish stocks.

  A Conservation Credit Scheme Steering Group, whose membership includes industry and conservation representatives, has been established to oversee the design, implementation and operation of the scheme. Funding is available from a range of government sources to support the opportunities which will arise as a result of the scheme, such as the European Fisheries Fund and the Scottish Industry Science Partnership.

Health

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that patients in continuing care wards benefit from appropriate mental and physical activities.

Shona Robison: It is the responsibility of health boards and staff in continuing care wards to ensure that patients have access to mental and physical activities appropriate to their individual needs and wishes.

  I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8133 on 23 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website; the search facility for which can be found at Questions & Answers Search.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many properties were owned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise in each of the last three years, broken down by local enterprise network area.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much rental income Highlands and Islands Enterprise received in each of the last three years from properties in the region, also broken down by local enterprise network area.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much revenue Highlands and Islands Enterprise accrued from property sales in each of the last three years, also broken down by local enterprise network area.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans Highlands and Islands Enterprise has to stimulate property development in the highlands and islands.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses have sought assistance from Highlands and Islands Enterprise to build new business premises or enhance existing premises in each of the last three years, broken down by local enterprise network area and showing the types of assistance available.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses have gained assistance from Highlands and Islands Enterprise to build new business premises or enhance existing premises in each of the last three years, broken down by local enterprise network area.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been allocated by Highlands and Islands Enterprise to acquire property in the last three years, also broken down by local enterprise network area.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what total area of land is owned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what total value of land is owned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many business tenants who lease property from Highlands and Islands Enterprise have leases of (a) less than two years, (b) from two to four years and (c) more than four years.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many leases of property owned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise are due to expire in 2008-09.

Jim Mather: This is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executive to write to you in this regard.

Housing

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available to housing co-operatives.

Stewart Maxwell: The £93 million allocated for development of the third sector in the spending review recognises the existing contribution of third sector organisations, including housing co-operatives, and the potential for their entrepreneurial dynamism to contribute to transformational change across the Scottish Government’s five strategic objectives.

  The new Scottish Investment Fund is expected to come into operation later this year and applications will be invited from properly constituted third sector organisations – organisations which are constituted for social purpose and principally non-profit distributing.

  As registered social landlords, housing co-operatives are eligible to apply for Wider Role funding to help support regeneration activity they may be involved in beyond their principal role as landlords.

  A budget of £12 million per annum for Wider Role for RSLs, for a three-year period starting on 1 April 2008 was included in the draft budget announcement made in autumn 2007.

Housing

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what regulatory requirements apply to housing co-operatives.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked James Hynd, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

  Housing co-operatives, like housing associations, are also known as registered social landlords (RSLs), which means they are registered with Communities Scotland. Communities Scotland regulates and inspects RSLs. All RSLs, including housing co-operatives, are required to meet the regulatory requirements set out in Part 3 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001. Communities Scotland has a set of published Performance Standards for all RSLs in Scotland. RSLs are required to comply with the standards. They are also required to submit annual financial and performance monitoring information.

  We tailor our engagement with RSLs to take into account the size of the RSL. But where there are significant weaknesses or performance issues, we can use our statutory powers of intervention to ensure that these issues are addressed and the interests of tenants are protected. These arrangements will continue under the new interim housing regulatory agency which will carry out the regulation of RSLs after Communities Scotland is wound up in April 2008.

International Relations

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to improve business links between Scotland and Shandong.

Linda Fabiani: Our trade and investment arm, Scottish Development International (SDI), has been targeting companies across China, including in Shandong, that offer Scotland investment or collaboration opportunities. Scotland signed a Co-operation Agreement with Shandong in 2006, and this has helped SDI develop relationships with economic development officials, which has in turn facilitated introductions to leading Shandong companies in the life sciences, financial services, electronics and communication technologies and energy sectors.

  A Shandong life sciences company visited Scotland in summer 2007 and is helping SDI explore possibilities for a broader life sciences collaboration.

  SDI also exhibited at the Creativity World Forum in Qingdao in November 2007.

International Relations

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any links have been established between Scotland and Shandong to encourage collaboration between science and technology industries.

Linda Fabiani: Our trade and investment arm, Scottish Development International (SDI), has been targeting companies across China, including in Shandong, that offer Scotland investment or collaboration opportunities. Scotland signed a Co-operation Agreement with Shandong in 2006, and this has helped SDI develop relationships with economic development officials, which has in turn facilitated introductions to leading Shandong companies in the science and technology sectors.

  A Shandong life sciences company visited Scotland in summer 2007 and is helping SDI explore possibilities for a broader life sciences collaboration.

International Relations

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been taken to improve links between schools in Scotland and Shandong.

Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government has provided £346,000 over three years (2005-08) to the British Council Scotland to promote and administer a Scotland-China Schools Links Programme, which includes Shandong Province, where up to 120 young Scots will learn Chinese and experience Chinese culture and way of life. The initiative provides funding for Scottish head teachers and teachers to travel to China, for one week visits to establish new school links. Funding is also available for head teachers and teachers to visit their partner schools to ensure that links can be consolidated and developed.

  In October 2007, a group of six head teachers from four primary and two secondary schools in Scotland visited Shandong Province to establish new school links.

International Relations

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what efforts it has undertaken to improve the understanding of Chinese languages in Scotland.

Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government is currently providing £4 million to local authorities to support modern language teaching and learning in Scottish schools. Across Scotland, we are beginning to see greater numbers of pupils studying Chinese languages and culture and increasing numbers of Chinese language assistants working in schools.

  Through the concordat with COSLA we are moving to an outcomes-focused approach which empowers local authorities and gives them more flexibility to meet the Scottish Government’s national outcomes, including making Scotland the most attractive place to do business in Europe, realising our full economic potential and ensuring that we are better educated, more skilled and more successful and our young people are successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens. Understanding of a diversified range of languages including Chinese makes a valuable contribution to the successful delivery of all these outcomes.

  We are also supporting the development of certificated courses in Cantonese and Mandarin at Intermediate 1 and 2 which will be available from August 2008, with Higher and Advanced Higher following in August 2009. Courses at Access 3 are already available.

  Additionally, we are sponsoring Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS) and British Council Scotland to coordinate a number of Scotland-China educational opportunities, including summer schools for pupils and study visits for teachers and head teachers.

International Relations

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has developed joint education programmes and increased student flow between universities and colleges in Scotland and Shandong.

Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government continues to support the development of educational links with China and Shandong. For example, in September 2007 we welcomed a high-level education delegation from the Shandong Provincial Education Department. In November, we also supported a delegation of college and university principals on their visit to Jinan in Shandong. This delegation met the Vice Governor of Shandong and presented him with a letter of support from the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning.

International Relations

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what work is being done between Scotland and Shandong to raise the awareness of areas and attractions in (a) Scotland for tourists from Shandong and (b) Shandong for tourists from Scotland.

Linda Fabiani: China is one of the emerging markets for VisitScotland with a huge potential for expansion. That is why VisitScotland is keen to take further steps to see a significant increase in Chinese visitors to Scotland including Shandong Province through targeted promotion of Scotland as a tourism destination.

  In particular, we hope to build on successes such as Angus Council’s close links with Yantai City, Shandong Province to promote each others historical sites and golf courses.

  A range of marketing materials, brochures in Chinese etc and initiatives aimed at the Chinese market has therefore been developed by VisitScotland. VisitScotland also participate in sales missions and trade shows in China which provide opportunities to meet with agents from the whole of the China market. In particular, VisitScotland hosted over 60 representatives from Chinese travel agencies for their International Chinese Tourist Association (ICTA) Annual Leadership Summit held in Edinburgh in November 2007. The first time the ICTA have held their summit in Scotland.

  The Scottish Government has also provided funding to support specific training for Chinese-speaking students to work as tour guides in Scotland. The first of these guides will qualify to coincide with Chinese New Year.

International Relations

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what efforts it has made to develop links with Shandong in respect of oil and renewable energy.

Linda Fabiani: Our trade and investment arm, Scottish Development International (SDI) has been targeting companies across China, including in Shandong, that offer Scotland investment or collaboration opportunities.

  Recent developments relating to energy include organising a visit by academics to the Ministry of Science and Technology in June 2008 in pursuit of a Scottish element of the wider UK-China research and development agreement. SDI officials have also built relationships with a range of Chinese oil and gas companies and will carry out further market research during 2008 to identify specific oil and gas opportunities in China, including in Shandong province.

International Relations

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5748 by Linda Fabiani on 8 November 2007, when it will make an announcement on the outcome of the review of the International Development Policy, showing which African countries it will provide with aid and when such aid will be provided.

Linda Fabiani: An announcement on the outcome of the review and future funding will be made soon.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many community service orders were issued to young people aged under 18 in (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Grampian in each year since 2002.

Fergus Ewing: The available information is given in the following table:

  Persons Receiving Community Service Oders1 in Aberdeen City2 and Grampian Police Force Area, 2002-03 to 2005-06

  

 Police Force Area
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06


 Aberdeen City 
 5
 12
 18
 14


 Grampian 
 16
 25
 33
 27



  Notes:

  1. Where main penalty.

  2. Incorporates an approximate mapping of sheriff courts into local authority areas. Some sheriff courts will deal with cases from more than one local authority area.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many probation orders were issued to young people aged under 18 in (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Grampian in each year since 2002.

Fergus Ewing: The available information is given in the following table.

  Persons Receiving Probation Orders1 in Aberdeen City2 and Grampian Police Force Area, 2002-03 to 2005-06

  

 Police Force Area
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06


 Aberdeen City 
 68
 108
 48
 99


 Grampian 
 89
 143
 80
 136



  Notes:

  1. Where main penalty.

  2. Incorporates an approximate mapping of sheriff courts into local authority areas. Some sheriff courts will deal with cases from more than one local authority area.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many supervised attendance orders were issued to young people aged under 18 in (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Grampian in each year since 2004.

Fergus Ewing: The available information is given in the following table.

  Persons Receiving Supervised Attendance Orders1 in Aberdeen City2 and Grampian Police Force Area, 2003-04 to 2005-06

  

 Police Force Area
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06


 Aberdeen City 
 -
 -
 -


 Grampian 
 3
 1
 2



  Notes:

  1. Where main penalty

  2. Incorporates an approximate mapping of sheriff courts into local authority areas. Some sheriff courts will deal with cases from more than one local authority area.

Livestock

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty’s Government concerning the proposed introduction of an electronic identification system for sheep and what the terms were of any representations.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government continues to work with Her Majesty’s Government and indeed the rest of the UK as regards the introduction of electronic identification (EID). Part of that work was the submission of the UK Evidence Report which highlighted the findings of trials within the UK and urged the Commission to take account of these findings in seeking a delay to the introduction of EID on 1 January 2008 (as laid out in EU Council Regulation 21/2004). It is believed that the extensive lobbying by the Scottish Government, Her Majesty’s Government and industry stakeholders resulted in the Commission recommending that the introduction of EID be delayed until 31 December 2009. A qualified majority vote on the implementation date of 31 December 2009 was secured by the Portuguese Presidency at EC Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 17 December 2007. The Scottish Government will continue to work with Her Majesty’s Government other UK Departments to make representations at EU Working Groups and to try find a workable and affordable EID system for the UK industry taking account of the unique stratified nature of the sheep movement system in the UK.

Livestock

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the European Commission concerning the proposed introduction of an electronic identification system for sheep and what the terms were of any representations.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government provided submissions to the Commission as part of the UK Evidence Report which highlighted the findings of trials within the UK and urged the Commission to take account of these findings in seeking a delay to the introduction of electronic identification (EID) on 1 January 2008 as laid out in EU Council Regulation 21/2004. We believe that following extensive lobbying by both the Scottish Government and industry stakeholders the Commission recommended that the introduction of EID be delayed until 31 December 2009. A qualified majority vote on the implementation date of 31 December 2009 was secured by the Portuguese Presidency at EC Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 17 December 2007. A UK delegation, headed by the Chief Veterinary Officer for Scotland, visited the Commission in July 2007 to seek approval to continue to work with them in order to find a workable and affordable EID system for the Scottish industry taking account of the unique stratified nature of the Scottish sheep movement system.

Livestock

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from the manufacturers and suppliers of electronic identification systems for sheep and what the terms were of any representations.

Richard Lochhead: No. Representations have been received by the Scottish Government from manufacturers and suppliers of electronic identification systems.

Maternity Services

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to ensure that all pregnant women are given a second trimester anomaly scan.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is working closely with NHS boards to develop the pregnancy screening programme to include the anomaly scan as a matter of routine right across the country. The introduction of fetal anomaly scans however has significant implications for the health service in terms of resources, workforce, equipment and training.

  A Pregnancy Screening Policy Implementation Group has started work and had a preliminary meeting on 17 January 2008 to take this work forward. We are hoping to advise boards of resource allocation and likely timescales for introduction and roll out of the amendments to the pregnancy screening programme in the spring.

Maternity Services

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of mothers in the NHS Tayside area were recorded at their six-to-eight-week review as breastfeeding in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Shona Robison: The requested information is published on the Scottish Health Statistics website under Child Health at www.isdscotland.org/child_breastfeeding . The latest available statistics are for children born in 2006.

Mental Health

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure that there is adequate provision of mental health services in (a) Aberdeen, (b) Grampian and (c) Angus.

Shona Robison: Mental health is a priority for the Scottish Government. Improved mental health is an important part of the higher quality of life that we want to deliver for everyone in Scotland. There has been steady progress in developing and improving mental health services across Scotland, supported by the record levels of funding that we and our partner agencies are continuing to invest in mental health care. We want this progress to continue and we have 18 published targets and commitments relating to mental health. These are designed to address specific needs earlier and to engage more closely than ever before with people who use services.

  Within this framework NHS boards, working with partner agencies, are responsible for assessing local service needs and for providing services to meet these needs. It is therefore for NHS Grampian to ensure that appropriate services are in place in Aberdeen and the wider Grampian area and for NHS Tayside to do so in Angus. Both NHS boards have well-developed mental health strategies that aim to deliver services that are consistent with need throughout the areas for which they are responsible. We will continue to work closely with the boards as they implement these strategies.

Older People

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland’s report, Older and Wiser , what action it is taking to ensure that patients in continuing care wards are given appropriate assistance with eating and drinking when necessary.

Shona Robison: NHS Quality Improvement Scotland published in December 2007 National Standards for Integrated Care Pathways for mental health, including the management and treatment of dementia. The standards state that health boards and staff should ensure that patients with dementia receive care appropriate to their individual needs and that staff should have relevant training to provide that care.

  I refer the member to question S3W-8133 on 23 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website; the search facility for which can be found at:

  Questions & Answers Search.

People with Learning Disabilities

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the range of services available to adults with learning disabilities.

Shona Robison: The provision of support services for people with learning disabilities is the responsibility of local government to be drawn from the local government settlement of £34.7 billion over three years.

  The Scottish Government is also committed to increasing the uptake of self-directed support for people with learning disabilities. This will enable people to have more choice about how they are supported and what services they receive.

Planning

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, following the public comments of the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism that a nine-month timescale should be the upper limit for renewable energy planning applications, whether this is now its policy and whether it applies only to renewable projects or to all planning applications.

Jim Mather: Scottish ministers have set an aspirational target to process new section 36 and 37 applications within nine months, under the Electricity Act 1989, provided no public local inquiry is called. This does not apply to planning applications, including those for renewable projects of 50MW capacity or less, which have separate statutory provisions.

Planning

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, following the conclusion of the Beauly to Denny transmission line local public inquiry, when ministers plan to make a determination on the planning application.

Jim Mather: The main public sessions of the Beauly to Denny line public inquiry concluded on 20 December 2007 but hearings connected with land acquisition and the sub-station at Beauly will not be concluded until February or later of this year. Following the complete closure of the inquiry, the reporters will compile their report for the Scottish ministers who will take this into account in reaching their determination. Their report is not expected until the end of 2008, consequently it is likely to be 2009 before a decision is made by the Scottish ministers.

Planning

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5123 by Stewart Stevenson on 5 November 2007, whether Fife Council has submitted its proposed revisions to the Fife Structure Plan and, if so, when it did so.

Stewart Stevenson: Proposed housing modifications to the Fife Structure Plan were submitted to Scottish ministers on 27 December 2007.

Prison Service

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any targets for reducing the number of female prisoners.

Kenny MacAskill: We have set up an Independent Commission, chaired by Henry McLeish, to look at the purpose and use of imprisonment, which is due to report in June.

  The role of the Scottish Government is to provide courts with a sufficient range of sentencing options in dealing with those appearing before them and to ensure that the appropriate authorities and agencies are adequately resourced to deliver the sentences imposed. However, responsibility for individual sentencing decisions rests with courts having regard to the specific circumstances of the offence and the individual offender. It would therefore be inappropriate for the government to set a target for the number of custodial sentences passed on any specific offender group.

Procurement

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions on matters related to public procurement it has had with the joint HM Treasury and DTI Procurement Policy Unit since May 2007.

John Swinney: Officials from the Scottish Procurement Directorate have met, and are in regular contact, with colleagues from the Office of Government Commerce Policy and Standards Division (previously known as HM Treasury and DTI Procurement Policy Unit) to discuss matters related to public procurement policy and legislation. Due to the frequency of contact between both offices, it is not possible to list details of every discussion that has taken place over the past nine months.

Project Scotland

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on advertising Project Scotland during the recent festive period.

Jim Mather: ProjectScotland is a company limited by guarantee and registered as a charity whose aims and objectives are to promote the welfare and relieve the needs of the population in Scotland by encouraging and assisting young people to provide their skills and services voluntarily to charitable organisations.

  Full information about the work of ProjectScotland is available from its Chief Executive at 49 Melville Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7HL.

Public Sector

Shirley-Anne Somerville (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will approach the relocation of public bodies and asset management.

John Swinney: I am pleased to announce today the publication of the Report on the Review of Property Asset Management and our approach to the relocation of public bodies.

  The main findings of the Asset Management Review are:

  The Scottish Government occupies 709 buildings totalling, 723,054m2 and there is a wide variety of management arrangements of these assets;

  Two-thirds of organisations surveyed do not have an asset management plan or strategy in place, and

  There is no single IT asset data system that holds key data about the whole estate.

  Based on these findings, the main recommendations are to:

  Ensure, by end April 2008, that all parts of Scottish Government have in place an Asset Management Plan.

  Ensure that, in future, we will maintain a single comprehensive database of property information.

  Put in place a central team that will maintain a strategic overview of the whole estate, perform a challenge function and identify the best opportunities for the future use property assets.

  As a result of the publication of this report, I am also announcing the Scottish Government’s approach to the location of public service delivery organisations. The relocation policy will be taken forward within the context of the government’s purpose and the five strategic objectives. It will seek to deliver better use of the government estate and ensure that opportunities to disperse public bodies are taken where a clear business case can be demonstrated. The policy will ensure that due account is given to the relevant environmental considerations of the Greener Scotland programme.

  The key principles of the relocation policy are:

  Achieving efficiency and best practice asset management. There will be a presumption in favour of the choice representing best value for money for the Scottish Government as a whole, providing that this meets the requirements of the organisation, unless clear reasons for an alternative are agreed and articulated by ministers.

  In pursuing value for money on accommodation decisions we will continue to pursue our policy of no compulsory redundancies.

  Major estate management decisions and all proposed changes of location will be overseen by Scottish ministers.

  The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth will approve all new commitments, confirm location decisions, and arbitrate in any disputes relating to the existing estate.

  Location and asset management decisions will be transparent (with the exception of commercially sensitive data) and made public, and staff and unions will continue to be consulted.

  The full Report on the Review of Property Asset Management and our approach to the relocation of public bodies are released today on the Scottish Government’s website.

Public Sector Staff

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce the incidence of work-related stress in the public sector.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government strategy in this and related areas was set out in the action plan for health and safety in Scotland, which was published in May and will contribute to the Smart Successful Scotland agenda, a robust strategy to deliver long-term, sustainable economic growth. Companies that have a good track record on health and safety tend to be the most progressive and successful. Further information about the plan can be found at http://www.iosh.co.uk . The Scottish Government also works closely with other organisations such as the Health and Safety Executive, the STUC and employers organisations to support approaches that address the promotion of health and safety in the workplace, most notably through the Partnership on Health and Safety in Scotland (PHASS) which is chaired by the Health and Safety Commission.

  An important element of the strategy is the Healthy Working Lives (HWL) programme which offers advice to employers in the public and private sectors on ways to improve the health and wellbeing of their workforce. Employers are encouraged to participate in the related award scheme which recognises and rewards good practice. Criteria for the Award include actions to promote good mental health. At the first Healthy Working Lives Awards ceremony on 15 January, the public sector was well represented amongst those gaining awards. The Scottish Government itself holds the silver level of the Scotland Health at Work award (the previous version) and is working towards obtaining the gold level of the new award.

Rail Network

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Office of Rail Regulation will report back to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on the proposal to electrify the rail line from Aberdeen to Edinburgh.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to answer to question S3W-8374 on 28 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at Questions & Answers Search .

  We do not expect the Office of Rail Regulation to report back to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on the electrification of the rail line between Aberdeen and Edinburgh, as it would be for Transport Scotland with industry partners to lead on the development of rail projects.

Rail Network

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it submitted to the Office of Rail Regulation in respect of the electrification of the rail line from Aberdeen to Edinburgh.

Stewart Stevenson: Our High Level Output Specification (HLOS), published in July 2007, outlined outputs we expect Network Rail to deliver or prepare to deliver between 2009-14. The HLOS (tier 3) provides for infrastructure enhancements such as those which would reduce journey times between Aberdeen and the central belt. Our long-term desire is to see all Scotland’s rail network electrified.

Rail Network

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it would cost to electrify the Aberdeen to Edinburgh rail line.

Stewart Stevenson: We expect electrification options, including cost, to emerge from the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR). The review will deliver its findings to the Scottish ministers in the summer of 2008.

Residential Care

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to ensure that staff in care homes receive specialist training in dementia.

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to implement the recommendations of the Care Commission’s report, Pressure for change .

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will conduct a review of all care homes in order to assess the scale of untreated pressure ulcers on elderly patients.

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts the findings of the Care Commission’s report, Pressure for change .

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it gives to care home staff on the prevention of pressure ulcers.

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it gives to care home staff on the treatment of pressure ulcers.

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it will have with local authorities to ensure that the findings of the Care Commission’s report, Pressure for change, are implemented.

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the guidance given to care home staff, in light of the Care Commission’s report, Pressure for change.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government accepts the findings of the Care Commission’s report Pressure for Change , which includes important recommendations for care providers, NHS boards and local authorities.

  Scottish ministers do not provide direct guidance to staff in care homes. It is the responsibility of the providers of care home services to ensure that staff are appropriately trained and that care is provided in line with the National Care Standards. Other professionals also have important roles in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of pressure sores amongst residents.

  However, we are keen to ensure a national approach in responding to this issue. The Scottish Government will, therefore, establish a National Programme Board shortly, to be chaired by the Chief Nursing Officer. The board will involve relevant representative bodies and will oversee and quality assure a programme of work on pressure ulcers and skin care. The board will consider and advise on any necessary action.

Residential Care

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland’s report, Older and Wiser , what action it is taking to ensure that patients in care homes are given appropriate assistance with eating and drinking when necessary.

Shona Robison: Older and Wiser centres on findings from unannounced visits to NHS Continuing Care Wards, not care homes. However, the Scottish Government places the highest importance on maintaining standards in care homes, including ensuring that residents are provided with adequate nutrition.

  The National Care Standards – Care Homes for Older People address the issue of help with eating and drinking. The Standards require care home staff to arrange whatever help residents need in order to be able to eat and enjoy their food and drink. For example the provision of liquidised food, adapted cutlery or crockery, or help from a staff member.

  Care homes are regulated by the Care Commission, which takes the National Care Standards into account in carrying out its regulatory role.

  To support delivery of the National Care Standards, the Scottish Government is funding the Care Commission-led Promoting Nutrition in Care Homes Project. This aims to improve nutrition and food and eating practices within the care home sector through the education and facilitated support of staff.

Residential Care

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to monitor noise levels in (a) continuing care wards and (b) care homes, in light of the findings of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland’s report, Older and Wiser .

Shona Robison: We have no plans for national action to monitor noise levels within continuing care wards or care homes.

  It is the responsibility of NHS boards to provide an acceptable environment for patients within continuing care wards.

  Within care homes the responsibility for providing adequate care, including the care environment, rests with providers, care home managers and staff. The vast majority of residents have single rooms.

Roads

Mr Frank McAveety (Glasgow Shettleston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the start date will be for the M74 extension and whether it will guarantee that the completion date will still be 2011.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-6230 on 10 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at Questions & Answers Search .

Roads

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its latest cost estimates are to fund the building of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and what percentage of its financing would come from (a) public, (b) private and (c) commercial sources through the Scottish Futures Trust.

Stewart Stevenson: We are making provision for the preferred route of between £295 million and £395 million at outturn cost in 2012. This is based on the risks currently identified but we will continue to monitor this in light of prevailing tender prices for roads contracts. The project will be examined for its suitability for taking forward under the proposed Scottish Futures Trust to ensure that it delivers value for money for the Scottish Taxpayer.

Roads

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the GAE for South Lanarkshire Council is for investment in the non-trunk roads network.

Stewart Stevenson: GAE is not funding. Rather, it is a means of distributing the grant that the Scottish Government provides to local government. Generally it is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and addressed the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives and manifesto commitments.

  It is, therefore, for South Lanarkshire Council to determine its spending priorities, including investment on non-trunk roads in its area.

Roads

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the A96 between Inverness and Nairn will be upgraded to a dual carriageway.

Stewart Stevenson: The Aberdeen to Inverness Multi-Modal Transport Corridor Study, and the outcome of a design study for a dual carriageway improvement of the A96 between Inverness and Inverness Airport will feed directly into the Strategic Transport Projects Review.

  The next round of major new investment in the trunk road network will emerge from the Strategic Transport Projects Review, which will examine the longer terms needs of Scotland’s nationally strategic transport network to develop the investment plan for 2012 to 2022. The Strategic Transport Projects Review is due to report to ministers in summer 2008.

Rural Development

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Rural Development Programme will be opened for applications.

Richard Lochhead: I can confirm that the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-13 was approved by the European Commission’s Rural Development Committee on 23 January. This milestone was achieved following intense dialogue between my officials and officials of the Commission to address a number of outstanding issues.

  We can expect formal written approval to follow from the Commission within two to three weeks. The programme will open as soon as practicable thereafter.

Scottish Enterprise

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-4527 and S3W-5969 by Jim Mather on 5 October and 12 November 2007 respectively, whether it has been advised whether the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise has written to John Wilson MSP stating that Mr Willie Haughey has never received remuneration nor claimed expenses in relation to his membership of the board of Scottish Enterprise Glasgow or his role as Chair of the Scottish Enterprise Careers Scotland Advisory Board.

Jim Mather: I understand that on 5 December 2007 the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise responded to John Wilson MSP in regard to question S3W-4527. In that letter, the Chief Executive confirmed that Mr Willie Haughey’s role as a board member of Scottish Enterprise Glasgow is not a remunerated post, and that no claims for expenses have been made by Mr Haughey. Nor has Mr Haughey been remunerated or claimed expenses in relation to his role as Chair of the Scottish Enterprise Careers Scotland Advisory Board.

Scottish Enterprise

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it has undertaken on the transferring of powers from Scottish Enterprise to local authorities.

Jim Mather: No formal consultation process was conducted in formulating the enterprise networks reform proposals, which includes the transfer of Scottish Enterprise’s local regeneration functions and responsibility of Business Gateway contracts to local authorities. However, both the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Development and I, as well as officials, engaged in a significant period of discussion with stakeholders representing a wide range of interests from across the business community, local authorities, COSLA, trade unions, the enterprise networks and LEC Board members themselves.

Scottish Enterprise

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which powers of Scottish Enterprise it is planning to transfer to local authorities.

Jim Mather: Under the reforms, responsibility for certain functions in relation to local regeneration activity and to the Business Gateway will transfer from Scottish Enterprise to local authorities.

Scottish Enterprise

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on transferring powers from Scottish Enterprise to local authorities.

Jim Mather: The transfer of activity, rather than formal powers, is currently subject to on-going discussion between Scottish Enterprise, COSLA and local authorities. Good progress is being made and this process will be completed as soon as possible.

Scottish Government Finance

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007, whether it will publish an update to The Scottish Executive's Expenditure: Comparative Trends: 1996-97 - 2005-06 published in 2004, to provide comparable spending data in real terms, broken down by department to level 2 figures.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government has no plans to update the comparative trends data. The comparative trend data merely provided an indication of trends in expenditure over an arbitrary 10 year period and was flawed due to the complication of the introduction of Resource Accounting and Budgeting. However, the following table, based on Annex B of the Scottish Budget Spending Review 2007, provides comparative expenditure for year 2002-03 to 2010-11 in real terms which is broken down by portfolio to level 2.

  

 Department
2002-03
Outturn
(£ Million)
2003-04
Outturn
(£ Million)
2004-05
Outturn
(£ Million)
2005-06
Outturn
(£ Million)
2006-07
Estimated Outturn
(£ Million)


 Europe and External Affairs
 0.4
 0.8
 3.9
 9.4
 10.5


 Culture and Gaelic
 118.2
 143.2
 154.7
 157.2
 175.1


 Corporate and Central Budgets
 1.1
 12.6
 12.7
 14.4
 13.8


 Historic Scotland
 44.8
 42.0
 4-
 43.9
 45.4


 National Archives of Scotland
 11.5
 11.4
 8.7
 9.2
 14.9


 Total First Minister
 176.0
 21-
 22-
 234.1
 259.7


 Scottish Public Pensions Agency
 241.9
 1,172.7
 1,454.4
 1,892.7
 1,987.9


 Committees, commissions and other expenditure
 2.6
 3.9
 2.3
 6.4
 17.8


 Rail Services in Scotland
 132.2
 210.1
 196.1
 20-
 672.3


 Concessionary Fares
 -
 14.7
 31.7
 38.3
 165.6


 Other Transport Agency Programmes
 -2.3
 34.4
 15.8
 62.8
 198.5


 Motorways and Trunk Roads
 980.6
 780.3
 808.9
 774.4
 945.1


 Ferry Services in Scotland
 37.2
 62.7
 64.3
 81.6
 94.2


 Air Services in Scotland
 34.8
 27.6
 25.2
 63.5
 34.6


 Bus Services in Scotland
 56.9
 58.7
 60.8
 59.8
 60.2


 Other Transport Directorate Programmes
 14.4
 24.3
 27.2
 27.2
 62.4


 European Structural Funds -local authorities 2000-2006
 5.1
 49.3
 48.5
 48.9
 -


 European Structural Funds -central government 2000-2006
 109.6
 161.9
 143.8
 125.4
 -


 European Structural Funds -local authorities 2007-2013
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 European Structural Funds -central government 2007-2013
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Planning
 -
 -
 -
 1.6
 3.2


 Enterprise, Energy and Tourism
 668.4
 745.4
 700.5
 741.2
 810.5


 Scottish Water and Climate Change
 196.0
 47.6
 88.9
 172.9
 0.6


 Third Sector and Social Economy
 11.2
 11.7
 21.0
 19.0
 25.2


 General Register Office of Scotland
 8.2
 8.2
 6.9
 8.7
 7.6


 Registers of Scotland
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Total Finance and Sustainable Growth
 2,488.6
 3,405.3
 3,689.4
 4,315.7
 5,078.1


 Health
 7,781.6
 7,990.1
 8,869.0
 9,419.3
 9,706.7


 Housing and Regeneration
 584.9
 689.8
 578.1
 450.1
 627.1


 Wellbeing
 9.2
 5.0
 16.9
 19.2
 20.8


 Sport
 19.7
 16.5
 25.3
 27.6
 32.7


 Food Standards Agency
 5.3
 7.0
 8.4
 11.2
 10.2


 Total Health and Wellbeing
 8,400.7
 8,708.4
 9,497.7
 9,927.4
 10,397.5


 Schools
 134.2
 145.3
 131.1
 132.2
 139.5


 Children, Young People and Social Care
 65.1
 72.4
 80.7
 108.0
 112.3


 Student Awards Agency for Scotland
 397.7
 375.7
 367.5
 356.0
 507.6


 Scottish Higher Education Funding Council
 841.5
 835.0
 896.0
 922.6
 -


 Scottish Further Education Funding Council
 520.5
 489.7
 524.4
 553.9
 -


 Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1,770.9


 Other ELL (ELL)
 46.3
 37.1
 46.3
 48.9
 66.7


 Total Education and Lifelong Learning
 2,005.3
 1,955.2
 2,046.0
 2,121.6
 2,597.0


 Student Loans - net new lending (outside TME)
 246.1
 232.2
 203.5
 159.7
 -


 Community Justice Services
 69.7
 75.7
 84.8
 96.1
 96.6


 Courts Group
 28.8
 39.0
 29.6
 42.6
 44.1


 Criminal Injuries Compensation
 35.4
 28.8
 23.3
 22.4
 23.2


 Fire Central Government
 7.4
 12.4
 9.2
 10.6
 12.5


 Legal Aid
 166.8
 175.6
 178.7
 168.8
 170.8


 Miscellaneous
 29.5
 6.8
 22.9
 10.1
 15.1


 Police Central Government
 87.7
 99.0
 118.7
 169.5
 114.5


 Safer Communities
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Accountant in Bankruptcy
 3.6
 4.2
 4.1
 8.0
 7.6


 Scottish Court Service
 85.7
 81.6
 75.5
 75.5
 77.2


 Scottish Prison Service
 307.2
 327.3
 370.3
 371.4
 374.5


 Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator
 -
 -
 -
 -
 2.7


 Total Justice
 821.8
 850.4
 917.1
 975.0
 938.8


 EU Support for Farmers
 404.6
 434.2
 454.3
 432.4
 -


 Rural Development
 145.1
 147.2
 137.3
 141.5
 110.3


 Research, Analysis and Other Services
 131.6
 94.6
 104.1
 116.3
 87.3


 Marine and Fisheries
 78.1
 97.2
 60.2
 65.5
 68.2


 Natural Heritage
 65.6
 143.7
 79.2
 87.4
 107.4


 Environment Protection and Greener Scotland
 40.8
 53.0
 54.7
 70.7
 61.3


 Water Quality
 12.6
 8.1
 7.7
 8.3
 3.2


 Forestry Commission Scotland
 44.2
 27.0
 38.5
 46.7
 55.9


 Forest Enterprise Scotland
 80.9
 49.8
 30.6
 32.6
 37.0


 Total Rural Affairs and the Environment
 1,003.5
 1,054.8
 966.6
 1,001.4
 530.6


 Administration
 236.3
 250.8
 266.6
 277.0
 258.6


 Total Administration
 236.3
 250.8
 266.6
 277.0
 258.6


 
 
 
 
 
 


 Total Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal
 81.3
 86.3
 87.9
 91.4
 101.7


 Local Government
 8,815.6
 9,585.2
 10,171.0
 10,469.1
 10,470.8


 Total Local Government
 8,815.6
 9,585.2
 10,171.0
 10,469.1
 10,470.8


 Police Loan Charges
 -
 15.6
 18.0
 15.4
 13.4


 Total Scottish Executive Budget
 24,029.1
 26,106.4
 27,862.3
 29,412.7
 30,632.8



  

 Department
2007-08Budget
(£ Million)
2008-09Plans
(£ Million)
2009-10Plans
(£ Million)
2010-11Plans
(£ Million)


 Europe and External Affairs
 13.8
 14.4
 14.4
 16.9


 Culture and Gaelic
 181.7
 179.5
 193.9
 195.6


 Corporate and Central Budgets
 14.1
 13.7
 13.8
 13.9


 Historic Scotland
 47.7
 49.1
 46.8
 46.6


 National Archives of Scotland
 9.0
 9.8
 9.8
 9.7


 Total First Minister
 266.3
 266.5
 278.7
 282.7


 Scottish Public Pensions Agency
 2,661.1
 2,527.2
 2,524.6
 2,463.3


 Committees, commissions and other expenditure
 28.5
 30.7
 32.9
 53.0


 Rail Services in Scotland
 638.1
 654.3
 638.9
 617.7


 Concessionary Fares
 192.4
 178.0
 179.9
 177.3


 Other Transport Agency Programmes
 291.7
 171.8
 272.6
 237.9


 Motorways and Trunk Roads
 878.4
 885.4
 1,009.9
 1,094.0


 Ferry Services in Scotland
 74.4
 87.7
 99.8
 102.8


 Air Services in Scotland
 42.1
 36.3
 36.2
 35.2


 Bus Services in Scotland
 57.3
 54.3
 54.3
 53.0


 Other Transport Directorate Programmes
 67.0
 75.6
 66.4
 54.4


 European Structural Funds -local authorities 2000-2006
 -
 -
 -
 -


 European Structural Funds -central government 2000-2006
 -
 -
 -
 -


 European Structural Funds -local authorities 2007-2013
 -
 -
 -
 -


 European Structural Funds -central government 2007-2013
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Planning
 2.5
 11.2
 5.0
 5.2


 Enterprise, Energy and Tourism
 690.3
 652.4
 633.2
 624.1


 Scottish Water and Climate Change
 181.8
 296.0
 296.0
 288.7


 Third Sector and Social Economy
 15.1
 22.0
 30.6
 35.4


 General Register Office of Scotland
 10.3
 11.0
 14.7
 20.5


 Registers of Scotland
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Total Finance and Sustainable Growth
 5,831.0
 5,693.9
 5,895.0
 5,862.5


 Health
 10,214.9
 10,110.6
 10,501.7
 10,669.1


 Housing and Regeneration
 480.6
 451.3
 539.4
 530.1


 Wellbeing
 36.7
 36.4
 37.8
 38.3


 Sport
 34.3
 45.0
 51.2
 50.8


 Food Standards Agency
 10.4
 10.1
 10.4
 10.6


 Total Health and Wellbeing
 10,776.9
 10,653.4
 11,140.5
 11,298.9


 
 
 
 
 


 Schools
 136.1
 126.5
 129.2
 130.4


 Children, Young People and Social Care
 115.6
 98.2
 100.2
 95.2


 Student Awards Agency for Scotland
 539.1
 483.4
 482.0
 494.3


 Scottish Higher Education Funding Council
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Scottish Further Education Funding Council
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council
 1,633.9
 1,588.7
 1,666.3
 1,678.7


 Other ELL (ELL)
 94.0
 107.3
 99.1
 100.7


 Total Education and Lifelong Learning
 2,518.7
 2,404.1
 2,476.8
 2,499.3


 Student Loans - net new lending (outside TME)
 13.2
 4.3
 4.3
 4.2


 Community Justice Services
 16.8
 2-
 22.0
 21.5


 Courts Group
 41.8
 42.1
 44.0
 44.5


 Criminal Injuries Compensation
 28.5
 27.1
 27.1
 26.4


 Fire Central Government
 7.0
 39.2
 16.3
 13.9


 Legal Aid
 168.4
 158.7
 162.1
 160.2


 Miscellaneous
 36.7
 31.3
 32.5
 32.3


 Police Central Government
 128.5
 131.5
 154.4
 153.0


 Safer Communities
 34.5
 30.7
 33.0
 33.0


 Accountant in Bankruptcy
 6.6
 6.6
 6.6
 6.5


 Scottish Court Service
 79.4
 77.2
 88.2
 88.2


 Scottish Prison Service
 427.3
 420.9
 441.2
 445.2


 Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator
 3.6
 3.4
 3.5
 3.4


 Total Justice
 979.1
 988.7
 1,030.9
 1,028.1


 EU Support for Farmers
 -
 7.0
 6.2
 5.3


 Rural Development
 144.1
 138.7
 138.1
 135.0


 Research, Analysis and Other Services
 111.7
 106.3
 110.4
 110.3


 Marine and Fisheries
 54.3
 62.3
 67.4
 65.6


 Natural Heritage
 82.1
 77.2
 79.9
 8-


 Environment Protection and Greener Scotland
 44.1
 98.6
 105.7
 108.8


 Water Quality
 9.3
 8.8
 8.2
 8.0


 Forestry Commission Scotland
 56.3
 61.0
 64.2
 65.1


 Forest Enterprise Scotland
 27.7
 24.7
 24.9
 24.4


 Total Rural Affairs and the Environment
 529.6
 584.6
 605.0
 602.5


 Administration
 241.4
 233.3
 237.7
 236.9


 Total Administration
 241.4
 233.3
 237.7
 236.9


 Total Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal
 100.8
 110.2
 118.7
 120.5


 Local Government
 10,651.1
 10,574.0
 11,013.7
 11,105.3


 Total Local Government
 10,651.1
 10,574.0
 11,013.7
 11,105.3


 Police Loan Charges
 14.7
 14.0
 14.0
 13.6


 Total Scottish Executive Budget
 31,894.9
 31,508.7
 32,797.0
 33,036.7

Scottish Government Publications

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-6067 and S3W-6070 by Jim Mather on 29 November 2007, whether the release of GDP statistics, as referred to by the First Minister on 28 October 2007 at a party political conference but not published until 2 November 2007, contravened the National Statistics Code of Practice Protocol on Release Practice’s principles 3, 5, 6 and 7 and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

John Swinney: The figures referred to by the First Minister on 28 October 2007 were the results of official analysis based on National Statistics.

  This analysis was prepared objectively and transparently by civil servants and provides the government’s best estimates of Scottish GDP per capita, under an established accounting treatment, which includes a notional share of North Sea output. This analysis was placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) on 2 November 2007.

Scottish Government Publications

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3760 by John Swinney on 9 October 2008, how and when it plans to achieve the £2 million savings from efficiencies in the system of designing, printing, publishing, and distributing government publications.

John Swinney: The £2 million of savings I announced in October 2007 will be achieved by a number of measures.

  The Scottish Government will review how we produce and distribute our publications. Reducing the number of documents we print, producing smaller print runs and encouraging greater use of web-only publications will help reduce cost and environmental impact.

  Initial distribution of publications will continue to be free of charge to our key stakeholders and other interested parties. Additional requested copies will be subject to a nominal postage and packaging charge from 1 April 2008.

  We already make all of our printed publications available online. Our aim is to increase our web-only publications by up to 20 per cent (around 250) by the end of this financial year. This approach to more web-only publications will reduce the need for large amounts of printed copies, and will help us become more environmentally-friendly.

  From June 2008, we will stop producing large reprints of publications, except in exceptional circumstances. Access to any publication can continue to be made free of charge via our website. Where demand is substantial and continuous, we will carry out a reprint but any reprinted copies will carry a cover price to reflect the cost of the reprint.

  Additionally, we are introducing a print on demand service which will allow anyone to request a copy of an out of print publication. This will allow one or more copies to be printed, the cost of which will depend on the size and the number requested.

  We will further review these proposals to assess their impact over the next two years. At that time, we may also consider the introduction of cover prices for some publications as long as this it does not prevent people accessing important information.

  All documents will still be available to download free of charge from the Scottish Government website.

Sovereignty

Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty’s Government over the sovereignty of Rockall and its associated sea area.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has not made any representations to the UK Government concerning the sovereignty of Rockall nor its 12nm territorial sea, both of which constitute recognised parts of Scotland.

  The Scottish Government has made representations to the UK Government concerning the conduct of negotiations with neighbouring coastal States over the agreement of boundaries to the UK’s claim for an Exclusive Economic Zone including the area extending 200nm from the St Kilda baseline to seas beyond Rockall and its adjacent sea area. Following these representations, the negotiating aims and conduct, including the participation of the Scottish Government, have been agreed with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  With regard to energy issues, while again we have not made any specific representations regarding Rockall, we have made clear, as part of the national conversation, that we would wish to undertake discussions with the UK Government regarding options for the transfer of responsibility of oil and gas resources to the Scottish Government in the long-term.

Tourism

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what role it envisages for Scottish Development International in assisting VisitScotland to attract overseas investors for future tourism-related projects in Scotland.

Jim Mather: Scottish Development International (SDI) has lead responsibility for attracting foreign direct investment, including tourism-related projects, to Scotland. In doing this, SDI works closely with colleagues in the enterprise networks and in VisitScotland, and discussions are currently taking place to consider how VisitScotland might support SDI’s inward investment activity in tourism.

Transport

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the notes of discussions between representatives of Stagecoach and the South East Scotland Transport Partnership (SESTRANS) regarding the possibility of a permanent hovercraft service between Fife and Edinburgh.

Stewart Stevenson: No, this is a matter for Stagecoach and SESTRAN. The Scottish Government do not hold copies of notes of discussions between Stagecoach and SESTRAN.

Transport

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the South East Scotland Transport Partnership has had with companies other than Stagecoach which have a track record of providing hovercraft services.

Stewart Stevenson: This is a matter for the South East of Scotland Transport Partnership (SEStran). However, I am advised by SEStran that they have had no direct discussions with other possible hovercraft operators in relation to cross-Forth services.

Transport

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a hovercraft service between Fife an Edinburgh should be put out to a commercial tender process if the service is considered to be commercially viable.

Stewart Stevenson: Procurement of any hovercraft service between Edinburgh and Fife by a public authority would require to comply with all relevant EU legislation. Whether any tender process was required would depend on the specific circumstances of any case.

  If a service is commercially viable without public subsidy, then it would be up to the commercial operator to take forward the project.

Transport

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive why the costs quoted in Forth Replacement Crossing Study - Report 5: Final Report and in the exhibitions and consultation on the new crossing were based on 2006 figures rather than outturn costs.

Stewart Stevenson: Project costs are generally first estimated at current prices, or prices of the last full year. In the case of the Forth Replacement Crossing Study, this was 2006.

  Outturn costs are calculated for budgetary purposes and are based on estimates of inflation going forward. This generally results in a range of costs rather than a single estimate due to the uncertainty over future inflation.

  It is, therefore, more useful to use initial current prices for comparison of options, such as the comparison between the Forth Replacement Crossing options.

Transport

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the costs quoted in Forth Replacement Crossing Study - Report 5: Final Report and in the exhibitions and consultation on the new crossing included any costs for inflation, VAT or fees and what the reason is for its position on this matter.

Stewart Stevenson: The project costs presented at the public information exhibitions and published in the study reports are initial estimates at current prices, excluding VAT. This is standard for transport projects.

  It is a requirement of the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) process, that all relevant fees are included, such as design fees and the costs for land acquisition.

  Optimism bias of 66% for the crossing itself, and 44% for the connecting roads, as required by HM Treasury Guidance, have also been included.

  Inflation has not been included; however the outturn costs quoted in the December Parliamentary Statement are based on estimates of inflation going forward for budgetary purposes.

Transport

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to train procurement officials on issues related to Article 19 of the EU public procurement directive.

John Swinney: There are currently no plans to run training courses specifically related to Article 19 of the EU procurement directive.

  However, guidance on "reserved contracts" was made available to public bodies in March 2006 and in October last year, the Scottish Government issued a guidance document Social Issues in Public Procurement which reconfirmed the Government’s support of the use of article 19. In additional, the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism and officials met with Supported Businesses representatives last December to agree a number of action points addressing issues arising around the use of reserved contracts from both the public sector side and from the "supported businesses" side.

Transport

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last had discussions with other EU regional legislatures on matters related to transport.

Stewart Stevenson: Since May 2007, no formal transport related discussions have been held with EU regional legislatures. However, in the course of day-to-day business, Brussels based Scottish Government officials may have had informal discussions with representatives of such legislatures.

Transport

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive why the responses to the public consultation on the new Forth crossing were not made available prior to the announcement of its decision on the form and location of the new crossing on 19 December 2007.

Stewart Stevenson: Following extensive analysis of the 756 feedback forms received, Transport Scotland completed the Feedback Report in November. The report was then submitted to ministers for consideration prior to making a decision on the form and location of the crossing.

  The Feedback Report was published online immediately after the ministerial announcement, to coincide with the publication of additional reports which document the further work undertaken since last summer, on the proposed crossing options.

Voluntary Sector

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which third sector organisations will be funded directly by the Scottish Government and how much each organisation will receive in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government will support a number of third sector organisations over the coming spending period. The number and identity of organisations, together with associated levels of funding, cannot be determined at this stage as many funds are competitive in nature, open to organisations out with the third sector, or dependent on an application process.

  In addition, responsibility for some local delivery decisions will transfer to local authorities over the coming spending period as part of the single outcome agreement approach.

  The government has historically collated and published its levels of support to the sector retrospectively, and will continue to do so.

Waste Management

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8259 by Richard Lochhead on 17 January 2008, how it will specifically allocate the £154 million retained portion of the Strategic Waste Fund.

Richard Lochhead: In my statement on waste policy to Parliament on 24 January 2008, I indicated that we intended to allocate over £100 million of this fund to support recycling and composting infrastructure; anaerobic digestion plants treating source segregated organic waste; high efficiency energy from waste plants and other facilities which divert waste from landfill and have high environmental performance. I will establish a short-life working group with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to discuss this further. The remainder of the fund will be used to support work on markets for recycled products, waste education and awareness, litter and flytipping, community recycling, waste prevention and commercial and industrial waste.